July 18, 2024. 9:00 PM. Bangladesh experiences a complete internet shutdown. No broadband. No mobile data. In an instant, one of the most densely populated countries completely vanished from the rest of the world.
In just a few decades, the smartphone has gone from a luxury gadget to an everyday necessity. But what is often overlooked is just how powerful these small devices really are. Today’s smartphones are thousands of times more powerful than the world’s most advanced supercomputers from over 30 years ago - machines that once filled entire rooms and cost millions to operate.
Google has introduced a new 'Deep Think' feature for Gemini Ultra subscribers, offering enhanced problem-solving capabilities through extended reasoning time. The tool, now available in the Gemini app, is a refined version of the model that recently achieved gold-medal performance at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), according to an official blog post by Google.
Flight Expert, a prominent Dhaka-based online travel agency, has abruptly gone dark, prompting panic among customers and widespread allegations of fraud. Since August 2, social media platforms have been flooded with complaints from individuals and businesses claiming they were scammed by the company, which specialised in flight ticket bookings.
Here are our picks for jobs of the week. Check out the article for more details.
Australian software company Atlassian is laying off 150 employees, with AI set to take over many customer service roles. According to a report by Sky News Australia, the announcement came via a pre-recorded video from CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes, filmed in his home office.
Adrian Mardell, the CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), will retire after three years in the role and more than three decades with the British automaker. A company spokesperson recently confirmed his departure, stating that a successor will be announced later.
Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) has reached a threshold of 4 terabytes per second in real-time internet traffic as of August 1, 2025.
Google will invest $6 billion to build a 1-gigawatt data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, marking its first such direct investment in India, according to a recent report by Reuters.
OpenAI has launched a new 'study mode' for ChatGPT, intended to guide students through learning rather than directly providing answers. The feature, now available to all users, including free accounts, will soon be extended to ChatGPT Edu, a specialised version of the AI tool for educational institutions.
Two youth-led teams from Bangladesh placed among the top competitors at the 14th World Invention Creativity Olympic (WICO) 2025, an international invention competition. Among more than 1,250 participants from over 25 countries, Team Atlas emerged as a gold medalist while CodeBlack, an all-girls robotics team, earned the silver medal.
Australia will include YouTube in its upcoming ban on social media access for teenagers under 16, reversing an earlier exemption for the platform.
Oppo has officially launched the Reno 14 (stylised as Reno14) series 5G at a musical event in Dhaka on July 28.
A two-day Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) bootcamp was held in Dhaka on 25–26 July, bringing together over 100 professionals to discuss sustainable business practices in Bangladesh.
Tecno has officially launched the SPARK 40 Pro Plus in Bangladesh.
Chinese robotics company Unitree has recently unveiled its R1 humanoid robot - a $5,900 machine that moves with startling agility. Standing 4 feet tall and weighing 55 pounds, the robot can perform cartwheels, hand-walking, punching combinations, and even downhill sprints - capabilities normally seen in robots costing many times more.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has recently raised concerns about privacy protections for sensitive ChatGPT conversations, comparing today's AI privacy standards to "having therapy sessions in public". Speaking on an interview on the 'This Past Weekend' podcast, Altman acknowledged growing user hesitation about sharing personal information with AI tools.
Google has pulled off a strategic talent acquisition by hiring key executives and engineers from AI coding startup Windsurf, following failed acquisition talks between Windsurf and Google rival OpenAI. Google will pay $2.4 billion in licensing fees to access some of Windsurf's technology while allowing the startup to remain independent, according to a report by Reuters.
Biko All In One, a student-led startup from Rajshahi University, has secured BDT 10 lakh pre-seed funding from the iDEA Project under the ICT Division of Bangladesh. The funding was handed over at the ICT Tower in Dhaka on June 29.
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) launched a redesigned version of its official website on June 28, aiming to enhance investor experience and strengthen the country’s investment narrative.
Shikho, the edtech platform, has recently announced a partnership with Meta to develop and deliver a new AI literacy course aimed at broadening public understanding of artificial intelligence (AI).
OpenAI's former chief technology officer Mira Murati has secured $2 billion in seed funding for her new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, valuing the six-month-old company at $10 billion, according to a recent report by Financial Times.
AI startup Cluely has secured $15 million in seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), about two months after closing a $5.3 million seed round. Founded by suspended Columbia University students Chungin "Roy" Lee and Neel Shanmugam, the startup has drawn attention for its AI cheating tools and unconventional marketing campaigns.
Klarna, a Swedish fintech company, has recently launched an artificial intelligence-powered hotline allowing users to provide feedback directly to a virtual version of its CEO and co-founder, Sebastian Siemiatkowski.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will halt all political, electoral and social issue advertising across the European Union (EU) from early October, according to a recent report by Reuters.
TikTok, the popular social media platform, has removed 11,006,960 videos originating from Bangladesh between January and March this year, according to its Q1 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report released on July 23.
Google has announced new AI features in Google Photos that allow users to convert still images into short videos and apply artistic styles to photographs. The tools, currently rolling out to US users, utilise the company's Veo 2 AI model to generate content from existing photos in a user's library.
OpenAI has announced a new upgrade to ChatGPT, introducing "agentic capabilities" that enable the AI model to perform complex tasks autonomously while possessing what the company describes as "high biological and chemical capabilities".
TikTok has recently introduced a new in-app feature in Bangladesh aimed at limiting the spread of misinformation during the monsoon flood season.
YouTube is getting rid of its Trending section, with the viral video showcase disappearing from the platform by July 21. The move marks the end of a popular feature, as the platform shifts toward personalised recommendations and specialised charts.
Microsoft Outlook, the popular email app by Microsoft, is reportedly down, with users around the world experiencing issues accessing or sending emails since early today.
Infinix has officially launched the GT 30 Pro in Bangladesh.
Honor has officially launched the Honor X6c smartphone in Bangladesh at an event on July 15.
TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is working on lightweight mixed-reality goggles through its VR subsidiary Pico, according to a recent report from The Information. The device aims to compete with Meta’s upcoming AR glasses, offering a lightweight alternative to bulkier VR headsets, states the report.
OnePlus has officially introduced the Nord 5 series in Bangladesh, unveiling the OnePlus Nord 5 and Nord CE5 smartphones. With this launch, the brand also expanded its ecosystem by introducing a range of IoT products, including the OnePlus Watch 3, OnePlus Buds 4, and the OnePlus Pad 3.
Nvidia has unveiled its latest entry-level gaming GPU, the GeForce RTX 5050, bringing its new Blackwell architecture to a wider audience. The GPU will be available in desktop and laptop variants, priced from $249 and $999 respectively.
Meta has partnered with sports eyewear brand Oakley to unveil a new line of AI-integrated smart glasses called Oakley Meta HSTN glasses, designed to blend wearable technology with performance sportswear on June 20.
Google has streamlined its mobile payments service, merging Google Pay into the Google Wallet app. For users across regions, this rebrand simplifies how people store cards, pay contactlessly, and organise digital passes - all within one app.
Finding the perfect gift for Dad isn’t always easy - especially when he’s not big on gadgets. But the right piece of tech can still make his life easier, more enjoyable, and even a little more fun. Here are our top picks for tech gifts to consider this Father’s Day.
Google Wallet, formerly known as Google Pay, includes a 'tap to pay' function, allowing users to complete transactions by unlocking their device and holding it near a compatible point-of-sale terminal. This system is designed to facilitate payments without the need for physical cards. Here's how to use it.
Want to get paid big bucks for hacking satellites? Elon Musk's Starlink is offering security researchers and ethical hackers up to $100,000 if they can crack its global satellite internet network - legally. As of February 11, 2025, the company's bug bounty program on Bugcrowd has already paid out for 118 vulnerabilities, with an average reward of $1,466.66 per bug over the last three months.
Ever wondered why some people get brilliant results from AI tools like Gemini, while others receive gibberish? The secret lies in prompt engineering, the craft of designing clear, practical instructions for AI systems. Here are 10 essential prompt engineering tips to dramatically improve your AI interactions.
From capturing stunning shots of the Milky Way to photographing rare cosmic events, Bangladesh’s astrophotography community is growing, fuelled by curiosity and creativity. Here are five essential pieces of gear to help you embark on your own astrophotography journey.
Starting February 19, Facebook will automatically delete live broadcast videos from Pages and profiles after 30 days, according to a recent announcement by the popular social media platform. Users who want to keep their live videos must download or transfer them before they expire. Here's how you do so.
A gun magazine was found in Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan's bag during a recent search at the airport.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has extended an invitation to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh and oversee the launch of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service in the country within the next 90 working days.
The competition in the world of artificial intelligence, or AI, is getting more intense day by day. Along with powerful models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, China's DeepSeeK AI is also gaining popularity. How is this new AI startup surprising the whole world? Let's find out in today's Star Explains.
After months of speculation, Apple officially introduced its Apple Intelligence platform during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 in June.
Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16, the latest version of its flagship smartphone.
Competing against 451 teams from 77 countries, the Bangladeshi robotics team "Robonium Bangladesh" clinched the 5th position in the World Robot Olympiad 2023 in the "Future Innovators (Senior)" category, held in Panama
Game development in Asia has largely been taking place in East Asia since the creation of video games. Is this about to change ? We talked to Mehnaz Irtika from The Daily Star, who told us about the challenges Bangladesh's game industry faces if it wants to compete with the big dogs.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that Meta attempted to recruit his employees with staggering compensation packages, including signing bonuses reaching $100 million. The disclosure came during a discussion on the 'Uncapped' podcast hosted by his brother Jack Altman.
Trump Mobile, a new wireless provider affiliated with the Trump Organisation, has recently launched a national mobile service and announced its own Android-based smartphone, marking the company’s entry into the telecommunications market.
Meta has announced it will begin showing advertisements in WhatsApp's Status feature, marking a significant shift for the messaging platform that has remained largely ad-free since its acquisition by Facebook in 2014.
Taiwan has placed China’s Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) on its export control list, grouping them with proscribed entities such as the Taliban and al Qaeda, according to a recent report by Reuters.
The US Department of Defense has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to develop artificial intelligence tools for national security applications, according to a Pentagon announcement on Monday. The agreement calls for the ChatGPT creator to build prototype AI systems addressing both military and government operational challenges.
The world of computer science, as saturated as it is, still allures fresh faces by the minute. The usual roadmap is to go through the motions of a degree, choosing a specialisation in the final year, and then opting to conduct thesis work or land an internship. It’s an age-old blueprint that’s been tried and tested.
Team UIU secured seventh place globally, and second place among Asian teams.
The Phoenix Summit 2025, a flagship cybersecurity conference hosted by NCC, concluded on 24 May after three days of extensive dialogue, technical insight and cross-sector collaboration. Held in the capital, the summit brought together more than 3,500 participants, including experts, policymakers, academics and private sector representatives, reinforcing Bangladesh’s commitment to building a robust digital security framework.
The Washington Post is investigating a cyberattack that targeted the email accounts of several of its journalists, according to a recent report by Reuters.
New York state lawmakers have recently approved a first-of-its-kind bill requiring major AI developers to implement safety measures preventing catastrophic misuse of their technology.
